Engineering Ambassador program pins 18th class

|Sep 11, 2017

Engineering Ambassador program pins 18th class

Sep 11, 2017

They arrived in dapper green sport coats. They left with grins -- and shiny new pins affixed to their jackets.

Such was the case for the 20 Russ College juniors and seniors officially inducted into the Russ College’s Karol A. and Joann Ondick Engineering Ambassadors Program on Thurs., Sept. 7, in Stocker Center.

Dale Masel, program adviser of 14 years, explained the four primary responsibilities of Engineering Ambassadors: represent their respective departments, guide prospective students on campus tours, perform service activities, and attend special events with alumni and corporations.

“For the students, this is an opportunity to both develop leadership skills and give back to the college,” Masel said. “There’s a lot of Russ College pride.”

Ambassadors are nominated by faculty and staff, and after an application and interview process by current ambassadors, a new class is born.

Russ College Dean Dennis Irwin offered encouraging words to each student, which Masel humorously described as personalized fortunes. Irwin said that being part of the program distinguishes the kind of professionals that these students will become after graduation.

“Being an Engineering Ambassador means that someone is most likely comfortable with dealing with high-level leaders, academics, parents and people running billion-dollar companies,” Irwin said. “They’re also setting an example for other people in their class.”

Upon receiving his pin, senior computer science major Gyasi Calhoun was addressed by Irwin as the next Silicon Valley entrepreneur. Calhoun said that he aspires to work in the Californian region, known for its technological innovation, as a software developer in health care.

“To be recognized by the dean is an honor,” Calhoun said. “I’m trying to have the most integrity and positivity with the engineering curriculum.”

Cami Jones, a senior majoring in industrial systems, said that she plans to live up to the legacy of Engineering Ambassadors by sharing her positive experiences to recruit prospective students.

“When students finally come visit, it’s really important to have that tangible experience with a real person, a real student,” Jones said. “I think that the pinning ceremony is the college’s way of acknowledging that importance of student-to-student interaction.”